Salmon Run is Good for Benicia Business

Salmon migrating past Benicia on their way to spawning grounds in the Sacramento River system usually means good business for Benicia Bait and Tackle. 

Employees load up their trailer, emblazoned "The Tackle Box," with food and fishing gear and head for the end of First Street. There, they supply local sport fishermen with everything from chocolate milk to locally made fishing lures.

When asked how business is affected by the salmon run co-owner Pam Royal answered, "A whole lot. During a normal year the summertime salmon run generates about 75 percent of our business."

For as long as anyone can remember, salmon have been swimming through the Golden Gate and past Benicia on their way to spawn in the Sacramento River system.  As recently as the late 1960s the salmon swimming past Benicia numbered in the millions and in 2002 more than 750,000 of the fish were counted.

A normal summer salmon season runs from mid July until the end of the year. 

For the past two years however salmon numbers have been so low fishermen weren't allowed to try to catch them during the yearly migration.  This year, sport fishermen are being allowed to try their luck at catching salmon for a relatively short season from Sept. 4 through Oct. 3.

For that period, fishermen will congregate at the foot of First Street to try their luck, and Benicia Bait and Tackle will be there to supply them with everything they need to catch King Salmon.